Rotary circuit-closer.



914,435. Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

FIG .4

.INVENTOR Z/r/ ATTUINEY,

FRANK LIND, OF KENT, OHI.

BOTBY CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

Speoication o! Lettera atant.

Application filed July 9, 1903. Berta) No. 442386.

To oil whom 'it may concern: f

Be it known that I, FRANK E. Limo, o citizen of the United States, residing' :it Kent, in the county of Portage und Stute ot Ohio, have invented new and useful lurprmenients in Rotary Circuit-Closets, of Vwhich the fol lowing is e specification.

This invention relates to rotary circuit (losers such as are used in connection with internnl crnnbustion engines for the urpose ot' forming` sparks between electrodes and thereby tiring charges of explosive mixture :it determinate intervals und the objects thereof :ire to produce n circuit nniler und brenlier applicable to enejines of the fore- Igoing type, which will be simple in construction und highly efficient and durable iu use.

further object of this invention is to provide n device of the class inunod espeviolly adopted for multiple explosion engines wherein tho electric Contact positively made und quickly broken und without any force. or strain tending to injure the structure.

A still tzu-ther object of this invention is to provide contoct members m'ronged to ou gogo n rotory Contact member of such o type thot the friction incident to the making und breotiing of the electric circuit rerduced to e minimum.

lVith the foregoing und other objects in ieu, thid iuwfotiou consists iu the` novel coustructiou. combination und arrangement oi' ,verts constituting the invention to be hereinafter referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part ol" this speritieutio. wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but 1t is to be understood that changes, vorintions und modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the Claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, in which similar refereure numcnls indicate like ports in the different `il ures: Figure l is a. plan of my improved evice. Fig. 2 is a. sectional View on line X of Fi l` Fig. 3 is a. sectional view on iine Y 0% Fig. 2; sind, Fig. 4 an enhirged detail of one of the Contact members.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 1 V

is the driving shaft of the rotary circuit closer which is connected by gearing or otherwise to the engine to be fired so as to insure rotation of the contact device at n speed commensurate with the engine. Mounty electrical current.

ed loosely on they shaft 1. is e. supporting; plate 2 preferably provided with o. centred hub 3 and further provided with e plural ot forwardly projecting doited eers through 'which extend holdi'est devices .fi which o. ring G of insulating inclini-ii 1r as vulcanized fiber is held in positioii. io plate 2 serves to close one end of the opeuir formed by the ring 6 and the opposite end closed by u cap 19 held removably io po sition by means of holdfust devices 20, thus preventing the. entrance of dust, dirt und other foreign matters to the mechanism hereinafter described. Mounted on .1nd adopted to revolve with the shaft l is n brush T having u hub 8 secured on. the shott by ineens of e set screw 9 end constitutiuo,l one member of the` circuit breaker.

Mounted on the ring :ire n piiirotitr of? members. euch containing suitololc merinroism for contacting' with the rt: lving brio-b in nuikiiw or breaking on clertrie circuit. Those members euch comprise n tnbuhir hond lothoendsof which are preferably closed by Home :iu-:ins s-.uch :is threaded cops ll ongegr- 'iugi iutrriorlymmunged threod` 1 tiroteo( the inerti ttl. The heed 10 of euch oi members is provided with u slot l! of .Y ing' transversely therethrough. Mounttd in the hond l() nre o pair of spherical bodies .f adopted to be forced into contacting roi..V tion with euch other by menos of coiled springs lit ,so :wronged that the spherical] liodies l2 project into the slot l and their rontuet with euch other. Extending refirwordly trout each of the bends 'lll is :i threaded shank l5 which posses through n suitable aperture in the insulating ring; ond is there held in position by moons of :i uut lf3. The outer ends of each of the Shanks i5 also beur :i poir of nuts l? for holding the ends of wires 1S used for conducting on The springs .t4 constantly force the two Spherical bodies into contact with each other and as the brush 7 revolves it posses through the slots l2 in thil nemlrcrs l0 and forces i1 art the two spherical bodies in 'euch und orms therewith an electric contact which is broken the instant. the brush passes. Any number of contact members i0 may be employed, depending entirely upon the number oi explosions re quired in the engine used in connection herewith and these members moy also be placed :it any desired point in the interior of the insulating rino;

6 so that the time of it o lui.

closin the electric circuit by which the liring o the explosive mixture contained in the engine may be pro erly regulated.

It will be a parent at the brush 7 easily forces apart tllie spherical bodies 13 and as they partially rotate on their axes their rotary motion reduces the friction incident to their contact with the brush 7, and yet a sucient pressure is aiforded by the springs lar head 14 to cause these bodies to insure electrical connection with the brush 7 What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A rotary circuit closer comprising a rotatable shaft, a radial arm carried by sai-d shaft, an annularly-formed insulating l member surrounding said shaft, a contact 2. The combination in a device of the plass described, of an annulus composed of insulating material, a contact member mounted on said annulus comprising a tubuirojecting into the interior thereof7 said hea portion provided with a transverse slot, spherical bodies mounted in said head, `means for causing said spherical bodies to contact within the lines of 'said slot, and a Contact maker revolving within said annulus adapted to ass through said slot and form an electricall connection with said s herical bodies.

3. n alrotary circuit'eloser, the combinai tion with a rotatable contact makergcf an annulus composed of insulating material surrounding and axially positioned with respect to said contact maker and a coperating contact member carried by said annulus comprising a tubular head provided with a transverse slot through which said rotatable member passes, s herical bodies positioned in said head ant contacting in said slot, resilient elements for forcing said spherical bodies into contact with each other, the line of contact between said spherical bodies coinciding with the path of movement of said rotatable Contact maker whereby said spherical bodies are forced apart and into an electrical connection with said rotatable contact maker during the revolution thereof.

4. ln a rotary circuit closer, the combination with a rotatable contact maker, of u` suitably-supportcd annulus oi' insulating material arranged axially with respect to said contact maker and a cooperating con tart member comprising a shank to project through a suitable aperture in said annulus for supporting the latter in position, and a head portion provided with a transverse slot through which said rotatable contact maker passes, spherical bodies mounted in said head arranged to be normally held in contact with each other, their point of contact being in said slot and in the path of movement of said rotatable contact maker whereby said spherical bodies are forced apart and into electrical connection with said rotatable contact maker during the revolution thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit n esses.

FRANK E. LTND. W i tnesses C. E. HUMrnnnv, GLENARA Fox. 

